The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-02-19
Our Plundering Congress.
New York World lDem.l

Our Plundering Congress.
New York World Dem.)
1t is a startling fact that the pen
sion list of the United States for the
current year, amounting to $76.000,-
600. represents the interest at 8 per
cent Of public debt of over $780,
0oO, 1000.
The highest point ever reached by
this'debt was in 1886, whenit amount
ed to $2,776. 100000. So that the
present charge for pensions. with the
Mexican Pension bill added, will
equal the interest on the maximum
war pebt at 8 per cent. With the
cost of the pauper Pension bill added.
the pension charge will represent the
interest on a public debt of over
50, SOC. 900, 900.
And yet the Republicans Demo-
crats] have the temerity to claim
credit for a "great reduction of the
public debt !"
1t is a mere juggle of worde. The
form only of the public obligations
has been changed. The liability for
pensions once voted and allowed Is a
continuous one. The obligation is
not redeemable at will, nor subject to
payment by a sinking fund, like a
funded debt. 1t runs on and on, a
mortgage upon the industries of the
nation that only the death of pen.
sioners, the widows, and dependents
cancels and with demagogic Con-
gress inventing new classes of pen
sioners faster than the old ones run
out the list grows instead of dimin-
ishing with the lapse of time.
The fixed charges against the Treas
ury on these accounts stands thus at
present.
Interest on the funded debt. about.s 5000 900
Pension 5000 600
,OOO.9OO
This representes a debt of over
$4,000, 900, 900 at 8 per cent. 1t exceeds
the maximum of our war debt by
81, 2A, 900, 900, and overtops the pub
lie debt of Great Britain as follows:
United States, principal sum...-..s4, 600 900 900
Public debt OF Great Britain....... 1924 096 S57
Excess 375 sos, l43
With the added cost created by the
bill now in the Presidents hands,
the revenue required for interest and
pensions would be S16O,OOO,OOO.
Three days ago the Senate had
passed, with but one dissenting voice,
a bill to "refund" to the States some
$40. 200, 900 of direct taxes collected
during the war--a measure that would
never have been thought of but for
the fact of an "overfowing treasury"
The House passed a few days ago,
without debate and even without
reading-an action unprecedented in
such legislation-a bill appropriating
$500. 900 for rivers and harbors.
And the Senate proposes. after its
usual fashion. to increase this sum by
adding several millions on its own
account.
Both Houses passed last session a
river and harbor job of $14 500, 900
nearly three times the amount appro-
priated for this purpose, on an aver.
age. ten or twelve years ago.
Both Houses have passed at this
session two pension bills-the Mexi.
can and the pauperizing acts-which
will add to the annual cost of the list
from $40, 900. 900 to $50. 1000, 900.
Both Houses have passed, or will
put through before they adjourn, a
large number of public building jobs
-appropriating money to crafty
local pride or to make political capi-
tai for members.
This Congress has already earned
the distinction of being the most
profigate with the public money of
any that ever met. Party lines are
obliterated or inextricably mixed in
this blind rush to squander the sur
plus. Members of both parties vote
together in each House. The Demo-
cratic House rivals the reckless pro.
digality of the Republican Senate.
And Democratic President has not
yet placed his veto upon any of the
wholesale grabs at the Treasury, He
goes on straining at gnats and swal.
lowing camels-solicitous about the
drips from the spigot, but apparently
either blind or Indifferent to the waste
from the bung.
1t has been thought that no worse
reproach could he put upon the
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